"Coach..."
Hisashi Mitsui raised his tear-streaked face. His voice was ragged from excitement and sobs, every word seeming to be squeezed out from the depths of his soul.
"I... I want to play basketball!"
Boom!
Those words exploded through the silent basketball gym like a thunderclap!
They struck heavily at everyone's hearts, moving them all.
This was not a simple request. It was the most sincere, pure cry of a genius who had gone through glory, injury, downfall, and struggle!
It was his farewell to the past, and his declaration to the future!
A gratified smile appeared on Coach Anzai's face. His usually narrowed eyes were now fully open, glimmering with gentle warmth and kindness.
"Ho ho ho... It's good that you're back. Good that you're back."
He reached out, wanting to help Mitsui to his feet.
Kiminobu Kogure could no longer hold it in. Tears streamed down his face.
He rushed forward and wrapped his arms around the still-crying Mitsui.
"Mitsui! You bastard! You finally... finally came back!"
"I'm sorry... Kogure... I'm sorry..." Mitsui choked out, unable to form a complete sentence.
Takenori Akagi turned away and wiped the corner of his eyes with the back of his hand. Even his face, always as resolute as steel, showed a rare tenderness.
Ryota Miyagi watched the scene and let out a long sigh, a faint smile of relief appearing on his face.
Hanamichi Sakuragi, meanwhile, was completely baffled. Scratching his red hair, he quietly asked Ayako beside him, "Manager, that long-haired freak is crying so hard. Was he really that good before?"
Affected by the mood as well, Ayako's eyes had turned red. She nodded and explained softly, "His name is Hisashi Mitsui. Like you and Kaede Rukawa, he joined the basketball team in his first year. Back then, he